萬國法律事務所

Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) recently revised the “stationary pollution source air pollution control fees” and narrowed the conditions under which applications for discounted air pollution control fees may be applied for emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. The new fee rates will be effective from the beginning of 2012 and are expected to significantly increase payments.

The EPA estimated that the Taipower Plant in Taichung will have to pay approximately NT$ 12 billion in extra fees next year as a result, and will bear the greatest increase compared to its payment this year. Formosa Plastics first, second and third MaiLiao Plants and Cogeneration Plant will have to pay an around NT$ 4.4 billion in extra fees, and the Taipower Singda Thermal Power Plant will pay approximately NT$ 5.9 billion in additional fees.

Formosa Plastics Group indicated that that it will pay the fees accordingly and try its best to reduce emission of air pollutants. The chief engineer at Taipower stated that the new fee rate will place a heavy financial burden on the company. Nevertheless, this new fee rate will increase the revenues of some local governments.

For factories that emit sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, the new fee rate will adopt the strictest standards in light of the best available control technology possessed by the central and local governments. Only when emissions of sulfur oxides are below 50% of the standard, and the emission concentration is below 100ppm, and the emissions of nitrogen oxides is below 50% of the standard, will factories be eligible to receive the discounts previously offered.